Measuring instrument having an adjustable scale



Dec, 7, 1948. H. c. HOUSER 2,455,865

' MEASURING INSTRUMENT HAVING AN ADJUSTABLE SCALE Filed Sept. 9, 1944 INVENTOIQ.

HERBERT c. HOUSER.

ATTORN V V This'invention relates and is directed to an automatically operable in- .strume'nt of the protractor type for measuring ,The principal object resides Patented Dec, 7, 1948 ware tomeasuring instruments angles directly. in the arrangement of a'compact and simple instrument capable of measuring anglesquickly and accurately.

" It is also an object to provide this instrument with a movable scale member and a flexible diaphragm type scale retaining member so that the scale may be secured against unintended movement until the diaphragm member has been flexed suificiently to free thescale of frictional restraint. These and other objects will. be not-ed in the following description which relates to a preferred embodiment of theinvention illustrated in the ,drawing il i which: 1 Figure 1 is a general perspective View ofthe instrument which constitutes the basis of the invention,

, Figure 2 is a sectional elevational View taken at line2-2of Figure 1; H Figure 3 is .a sectional view of the flexible diap ragm member with its. reflexed configuration indicated in dotted outline,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the pendulum and scale-pointer arrangement,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detailrof' a modification of the scale pointer to include a Vernier scale, and 1 I Figures-6 and i are face views of the present instrument showing respectively a typical setting of the scale with reference to the horizontal and the measurement of an angle taken from the horizontal,

In the drawing, and particularly Figures 1 and 2,the measuring instrument takes the form of a frame or body It! having an aperture H Opening therethrough, This body is suitably-mounted on a. rectilinear base member l2 in such a manner ;.that the bottom plane surface l3 of the base can .beselected as a datum surface to be used in taking measurements.

A closure plate I6 is secured in the as by the nut element 20 threaded over the rearwardly extending portion 2 l thereof as shown in FigureIZ. In this manner the pendulum is confltained in a body chamber or recess 22 formed by the aperture 1 I and the plate It and it isconstrainedtoswinging movement within the chambe: upon the stud' l8.

S ATENT OFFICE '2,455,865 a v MEASURING msmomtmmyise AN ADJUSTABLEVIJSCYALE Herbert G. Houser, St. Louis, Moi,- assignor to-Cur- 1 tiss-Wright Corporation ,"a corporation of Dela- Application September 9, aagsaal no. 553,387

6 Claims. (o .'-'33 215) i The" pendulum is substantially enclosed in th bodyehamber by a diaphragm-like plate member .23j provided with :an'aperture 23 in the zone of *the'pendulum hub andbearing. This plate 23 is fixed in the notch IS in any suitable manner and is further held at its peripheral margin by a ring member 24 which, in turn, is detachably carried on the l body. l 0. Furthermore this ring member is formedjwith a radially inwardly directed flange 25 which'is suitably raised or spaced from the face ofpiate 23 thereby defining a groove 26 of circular extent. for. the guidance of a scale member 21 whi'cl i is movably mounted in this groove between the plate 23 and ring flange 25. The scale is pro- ,vided with a; series of graduations, which in this jcase" indicate degreesof angular, displacement of the instrument datum surface [3 from the true horizontalor vertical reference axes. However, ..other in'dicia maybe substituted for that shown.

1 Afparticular feature of this instrument resides inthe' arrangement of the scale 21 for adjustable movement within the groove 26 and in the provisionjfo'r frictionally'retaining the scale in any desired position of adjustment around the circump'fere nceiof the body; In carrying out thisinven- "tion the flexible diaphragm-like plate 23 is suitably formed orjotherwiseshaped to give it a slight but permanent convex set as is clearly indicated in 'FigureZ and again in Figure 3 in full line. The flexible characteristic is desired to permit flexing 'or f springing the plate in a reverse direction whereby its normal convexity is temporarily changed to a slight concavity. This flexing featiire'is clearly shown in Figure 3. Sufficient pressure'appli'ed near the central area of this convex plate will produce the-concavity or flexing desired. 'Accordinglyythescale 21 is normally held in frictional contact with the face surface of the diaphragm plate '23 and the inner surface of the retainingflange '25 'by'the convex curvature of the plate. Accidental" displacement of the scale is prevented 'and hence accurate readings can be made with this instrument. Th scale can be shifted or "adjusted in its grooved guideway by flexing the plate 23'inwardly toward the pendulum 11' until it becomes flat or slightly concave, at which tiine the width of the scale guideway is increased and the frictional restraint relieved sulficien'tly toallow for shiftable adjustment thereof.

' 1 The instrument is completed by the assembly I of a scale pointer arm 28on the pendulum member so that a pointer or finger element 29 carried by the arm rides over the scale'indicia. The arm 28 is "suitably carried on a cup-shaped base member 30 directlyattached through the plate aperture 23'to'the'hub portionof the pendulum ll, as shown -inFigures'2 -and4-. Inaddition, initial calibration adjustments of the pointer arm is provided by the use of a centering screw 3| and an offset adjustment screw 32 whereby an exact arm setting can be obtained. This adjustment may be -hadby providing an oversizeaperture in arm 28 for the screw 32. As can be seenin Figure 2 movement of the plate 23 toward the concave position as shown in Figure 3 will result1in the plate contacting the pendulum thus restraining it from movement.

A modified scale pointer arm 33 which'is'shown in Figure 5 may be used in place .ofrarm 28. .if a Vernier scale is required for1more=accurate readings. head 34 provided with a laterally directedlarcuate slot 35 positioned so that 'tl'reindicia on scale 2'! can be seen as the slotted head 34 movesnver the same. Along the lower margin of this rvernier head vsuitable vernier. graduations have been marked off to .either .side or a zero. iposition 'indicatedwby the pointer .nib .36. The Vernier graduations. are chosen to.,give-a close. reading of thescale .graduations .in the usual manner and hence no. .detaile'drdescriptionthereof is believed When the-instrument is assembled and initially calibrated "with the true horizontal reference plane'a zero reference mark'i'i is suitably scribed onthe flange25 of ring member '24. Thereafter,

the scalezl maybe shifted inv its'guideWayJasbe- -fcre described, to-any desired position with respect to the calibrationmarkl31 and within'the end limits of its gra'duations. In the present case the scale graduations representlO degrees of arc and henceits limits willbe'zero or one-hunwdred and eighty degrees.

-In Figures Band 7 thepresent instrument is shown as being initially adjusted for the reading of any desired angleiup to 90odegrees from a horizontal reference plane. "It will be observed that-angles may be measured ineither a clockwise or a counter-clockwise .direction. 'In the example illustrated .theinstrument Jhas been tilted clockwise throug'han tangle' of 120 degrees 'sotthat the datumsurface .I3 is .displaced"20.de-

grees above the horizontal wreferenceuplane.

With the scale 21 setv for alignmentldf it'sl9'0'de- .gree graduation line with the reference mark'3'1 on-member-M .(Figure 6) it will beeclear that -the..20 degrees of rotation of ltheiinstrument will herein without departing Jfrom the. invention any way and it"is the purposento cover allsuch -m0difications in the-appended. claims.

I claim:

1. A -measuring instrument. comprising :a daddy member having. a circular aperture therethrough,

a ring member secured to the body r member around theaperture, :a convexlyaformedflexible diaphragmsecured between said members, a scale frictionally retained between .thenconvexnside of scale being movable =relative -to said members upon flexing of said diaphragm from itsnormally convex configuration.

:A measuring instrument :comprising a 1 body having acircular-apertureotherethrough,r-a ring secured to .thetbody around theiaperturawa consvexly formedlflexible:-diaphragmsecuredbetween The modified arm includes an enlarged -said diaphragm land one of said-members,-rsaidl 4 the ring and the body, the ring refining with the convex face of the diaphragm a groove, a scale member mounted in said groove and frictionally restrained against movement therein by said diaiphragm, saidscale being movable -in said groove upon flexing of the diaphragm, said scale being movable in said groove upon flexing of the diaphragm from its normal convex configuration.

3. A measuring instrument comprising a body having a circular-aperture therethrough, a convexlyfo'rmed flexible diaphragm having a central aperture providedtherein for passing a pointer ,.-supporting-member, a movable scale, a scale retaining memberisecured to said body around the aperture thereof and defining with the convex *side'oi said-diaphragm a circular groove in which said :scale is normally frictionally held from movement, said scale being movable upon flexing .of said .diaphragm fromits normal convex configuration. v,

AfIn a 'measuring instrument,."afiexibl-e Fdi'aphragm normally of convex-configuration,the peripheryof the diaphragm .beingrsecuredfto-a ring which "defines with the "convexface er the diaphragm a circular groove, ascalemounteddn .said groove and 'friction'ally ;restrained""against movement therein'by pressuraexerted by said .convex "face, said "scale being "'movabl'e" in'fsaid groove upon "fiexing-"ofthe diaphragm from its normal convex configurationto'renrovesaid pressure.

"5.In a 'measuring instrument, "a umpma'gm normally of convex configurationiantifflexible. to concave" configuration, the periphery of th "d1 aphragm being secured"to "a ring iwllih defines withthe normally convex faceofthgdi'aphragin a circular groove, the diaphr'agm having a central aperture 'f or passing pointer" supportlng'menrbar, a scale mounted in said groove for coopera- "tion with such pointer, said "'s'cale being "restrained against movement *in 'sai'd :gro'ove ,by .pressureexertedby said "convex 'face 'ani i being movable in 'said'groove uponflexing or thediaphragm to a concave "configuration'tofremove said"pressure. 1

GPA measuring instrumentcomprising a' b'ody having a circular "opening therein; -a' pendulum mounted the bodyopening'for-swinging movement relative thereto, a normally convex ea- .phragm h'avinga central aperture" provide'd therein,"s'aid.diaphragm being secured ati-ts periphery to said .body andbeing flexible to a=concave con figuration, a pointer supporting member-con"- -nected to said pendulum and passing through the central aperture in the diaphragm, a movable scale, a scale retaining member securedto' said body and *tlefining withthe normally convex sideofsaid diaphragm a-circular groove inwhi'ch said 'scale "is normally friction'ally 'held -against "movement,-said scale" beingmovable u'pon flexing (jihad-"diaphragm *when'hn said -'concave "configuration engaging the pendulum fo'rrestrain-- ing it against movement.

- HERBERT Ci HGUSER. I"

esnr-EnrmoEs 'cLr-En lihe'following references are ofg record: zfile ofdthistpatentz r "UNITED"STATESJPZKTEN' s .Number Name 4 Date- 323,881 ...Deckar.d oct.12o;j1sa5 [794,659 T'Brodton Jamil, 19165 841,598 =.Stricker.. 'Jan...1',5,- I907 357,991 Gibson JuneI2 5,1Q??? Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,455,865. December 7, 1948. HERBERT O. HOUSER It is hereby certified that errorappear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 4, lines 6, 7 and 8, claim 2, strike out the comma and words, said scale being movable in said groove upon flexing of the diaphragm;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of March, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommz'ssioner of Patents. 

